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Summary and Objective
Students will understand that George Washington was a hero to his fellow Americans from the Revolution onward, and he is remembered by them in a variety of ways.
Teaching Plan
Step 1.
Pre-activity: Students will think at home and list items they know about the first president of the United States, George Washington, using a generated list of questions brainstormed at school. Students will select one or two items at school to share with the class. We will chart answers.
Step 2.
Students will work cooperatively in small groups planned by the teacher to read a selected book about George Washington. Book titles may include, but are not limited to: George Washington by Lenny Hort; George Washington, Spymaster: How the Americans Outspied the British and Won the Revolutionary War by Thomas B. Allen; DK Readers: George Washington: Soldier, Hero, President (Level 3: Reading Alone) by Justine Korman, Ron Fontes; George Washington and the General's Dog (Step Into Reading : Step 3 Reading on Your Own) by Murphy; George Washington's Breakfast by Jean Fritz; George Washington's Teeth by Deborah Chandra, Madeleine Comora; Meet George Washington by Joan Heilbroner; A Picture Book of George Washington by David A. Adler; George Washington by Cheryl Harness; and Sterling Biographies : George Washington: An American Life by Laurie Calkhoven.
Step 3.
Students will write 3-5 things they learned about George Washington from their individual stories. They will share this information with the other groups to get a variety of perspectives. We will chart these ideas to use later in the activity.
Step 4.
In small groups, look at the items from the American Centuries website and discuss the involvement with George Washington. Students will read the articles (be sure to click Show Text) and think how the article may affect the readers of today. We will have a discussion on how these items are similar to items they see in today’s political arena. We will establish a link between the past and present by charting the information students discuss. This will be a whole class discussion.
Step 5.
Students write a friendly letter addressed to George Washington stating why they would or would not vote for him as president of the United States. They should use information from the cooperative books they read in groups and the items from the American Centuries website.
Step 6.
Extension: Students will work in cooperative groups to go to the websites below. For those schools with limited computer access, teachers may print out the activities.
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